Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A World War II tale that serves up history and heroics. Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, and his covert ops sidekick, Bucky Barnes, both White, charge forth through Transia, a fictional country on the Eastern European front, aiding British soldiers against Germany. Their secret weapon is a “Ghost Army” led by Japanese American Jim Morita, consisting of fake recordings and props to fool enemies. An attack from seemingly real ghosts leads Cap and Bucky to a city under Nazi siege and to supernatural villains. This theater of war is enhanced by period-appropriate details such as K rations, characters raising their rifles when crossing rivers, and well-developed character backstories. We learn that Morita joined the U.S. military in order to leave a camp imprisoning Japanese Americans, which Cap acknowledges with shame. Sofia, a young Romani woman who teams up with Bucky, teaches him that the term gypsy is a pejorative. Characters also reckon with trauma from the previous world war. The villains, scheming though they are, have a few relatable moments. Reliably timed action scenes keep the pace moving quickly and demonstrate Cap’s selflessness. Marvel newbies should find this story accessible, though fans will spot winks to the larger shared universe. Come for the Marvel flair; stay for the well-rounded characters and historical touch points. (Graphic fiction. 8-12) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.